- Home
- Department Services
- Trash & Recycling
- Recycling Services
Recycling Services
Single-Stream Curbside Recycling
Single-stream recycling services are provided, without additional cost, to the city's residential trash collection customers.
Since the program's beginning, participants have recycled thousands of tons of metals, plastics, paper, and cardboard, yielding significant savings in energy and natural resources.
How the Program Works
The recycling program is “single-stream”, meaning that all recyclables are placed in a single 90-gallon can that the city provides to each residential customer. The Single-Stream Recycling Guide and Calendar provides additional details about the program.
Changes to the Program in 2023
Beginning on January 1, 2023, the city's recycling program will no longer accept number 3, 6, and 7 plastics. These types of plastics include PVC products, styrofoam, packing peanuts, coolers, polycarbonate items, etc. Currently, there is no market for these plastics.
Approved Materials
Plastics – Numbers 1, 2, 4 & 5: Empty and rinse containers. Remove caps, lids, and pumps. Labels are okay.
- Paper: Remove plastic. Shredded paper must be placed in a paper bag.
- Cardboard and Paperboard: Remove plastic parts and flatten. DO NOT include items contaminated with oil or food residue or wax/plastic-coated items, such as ice cream and juice containers.
- Metals: Aluminum and tin/steel cans, metal caps, and lids. Empty cans and rinse out food residue.
Collection Schedule and Holidays Interruptions
Place cans no later than 6 a.m. on your collection day. A $35 fee is charged for ‘go back’ requests from customers who fail to have their recycling receptacle placed in time for collection and drivers may not be able to return until the next collection day.
Recycling containers are emptied once every two weeks according to the recycling calendar. Recycling collections and trash collections occur on different schedules. See the Trash Services page for trash collection instructions and schedules.
Blue cans are emptied on blue weeks and green cans on green weeks, unless notified otherwise by city personnel. A sticker on the top of the can shows the day of the week that it will be emptied.
Collections that fall on a city-observed holiday shift to Friday of the same week.
Placing the Recycling Can
On your designated collection day, please place the recycling can in the location that is used for trash pickup. Keep cans at least four feet away from obstructing objects. All recyclable items must be placed in the 90-gallon recycling can. The city will not collect other containers or items placed next to the can.
Recycling cans should be removed from the collection area after they are emptied and placed in a storage area that is clear of alleys or sidewalks.
Only the 90-gallon collection carts supplied by the city will be emptied. Please do not over-fill carts and do not place additional items on top of or alongside the container.
Expanded Recycling Services
City residential trash customers can recycle televisions and monitors, fluorescent tube lamps and CFLs, and used tires at the Public Works facility (1221 6450 Rd), Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Disposal fees are charged as shown below and customers are required to call ahead for an appointment (970-240-1480) to drop off materials. No unscheduled drop-offs are allowed.
The following expanded recycling services are provided to City of Montrose residential trash customers only. Prior to unloading any materials, customers must check in at the Public Works reception desk.
- Electronic Waste: Only electronics with glass screens. Televisions and monitors - $30 each.
- Used Tires: Tires under 18" in diameter are $4.50 each and tires over 18" are $9.00 each. Tires mounted on rims are not accepted.
- Fluorescent Lightbulbs: Light tubes and CFLs are accepted without charge. Note: Commercial trash customers and individuals who are not city residential trash customers can dispose of fluorescent tube bulbs for a $1.00/bulb fee.
Green Waste
As of January 1, 2021, the City of Montrose no longer accepts green waste. The labor costs associated with processing green waste were not sustainable for long-term fiscal stewardship. In addition, measures taken to prevent abuse of the program were ineffective, leading to complications and added costs for Public Works.
Alternatively, residents can participate in the City of Montrose’s annual leaf collection and spring clean-up or can dispose of green waste at the county landfill. City of Montrose utility customers may also contact Public Works at 970-240-1480 to schedule special pickups for a small fee.
Additional Recycling Options
The Montrose Recycling Guide provides a listing of area businesses and organizations that provide recycling services for a wide variety of materials including automotive fluids, electronics, batteries, textiles, and other materials that are not included in the city's Single-Stream Recycling program. See the Special Waste Disposal page for helpful information about disposing of electronic waste (e-waste), household hazardous waste, paint, and green waste.